Wodonga buries its recent finals hoodoo, now for Lavington
HOODOO BROKEN
Wodonga buried its recent finals drought with that riveting one-wicket win over Tallangatta.
The Bulldogs had lost their last three finals matches, including a straight sets exit last year.
"Yeah, we can put that to bed now and we're ready to go," co-coach Jack Craig said.
"It was good for our team to have a win like that where everyone played their role."
Wodonga will host Lavington in a re-match of last year's thrilling preliminary final.
RUN CONTINUES
While Wodonga was snapping a hat-trick of losses, North Albury racked up its third straight win and all against Lavington.
The Hoppers have now won seven of their last nine finals and one was a washed out draw, but captain Brendan Simmons can't explain an outstanding record.
"I don't know, I wish I knew the answer," he said.
"We've got a few guys who grow an extra leg and seem to make things happen."
Paceman George McCormick, Haydyn Roberts and Jake Burge all grabbed wickets against Lavington.
QUIET ACHIEVER
Anthony Hartshorn is a classic example of why North wins finals.
He played his first provincial game for the season and combined in an 85-run opening stand with Ash Borella after producing a superb run out of emerging middle order batsman Oscar Lyons.
Hartshorn has now played only three games after spending two weeks in second grade last month.
Normally if a team finishes fifth, and therefore facing sudden death, you would be stunned if it won the grand final, but not with North.
SERENITY NOW
In the helter-skelter of finals, you just need that cool head and Albury couldn't have asked for two more composed characters in its first final in 12 years.
Chasing a solid target of 182 for victory, Alex Popko and Kade Brown produced a 115-run stand for the second wicket.
"Not only do I enjoy playing cricket with 'Browny' and he's a great mate outside cricket as well, but he's also just so relaxed, two older heads and nothing worries us too much and we know, after all, it's just a game of cricket," Popko said.
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CROWS' COMEBACK
East Albury's return to finals is an outstanding achievement given not one player averaged over 30 with the bat.
It could well be a first, with No.8 Sean Barrett finishing with the best average of 29.1 and he also played five second grade matches.
Of the top six against Albury, Coby Fitzsimmons averaged 20.4, Kris Milosta (18.4), Luke Brunckhorst (23.2), coach Dylan Weeding (26.9), Liam Fitzsimmons (28.5) and Romario Greaves (22.5).
The Crows won six games last year and 11 this season.
WRONG TIME
Tallangatta's losing streak in finals will now stretch to five years.
A couple of dropped catches against Wodonga proved crucial, but the Bushies will also rue players losing form in the final weeks.
Englishman Matt Oswell, who moved between No. 3 and 5, had a highest score of 25 in his last six innings, while gun recruit Fraser Ellis didn't get past 19.
Ellis represented Victoria Country in January, but he's also a talented footballer with Wangaratta and perhaps it highlights how difficult it is to combine the two.